Farm Life in the 1940s

This video, derived from the home movies of the Belding family of Swanzey, NH, shows a slice of farm life in the 1940s. Included are logging/firewood production, plowing, seeding, haying, corn harvesting, manure spreading, construction, animal feediing and ice cutting.

[@clarencetrice4442]

the old sickle bar hay cutters were pre hay bines years ago that's what U used 2 cut hay W they ran off the PTO shaft of the tractor 🚜 😊 OMG 8 28 2O24

[@frankbrady8015]

THANK YOU. This film should be in the National Archives. The MOST enjoyable 20 minutes I've spent on this lousy computer in many a year - took me back home, growing up.

[@EasternVideo]

Thanks. I can only take credit for the editing.

[@ArmpitStudios]

Loved this. So much creativity with the machines, especially the doodlebug.

[@LedgemereHeritageFarm]

i’d love to see this farm today. old homestead hey maybe

[@FarmsteadForge]

I absolutely loved this video. What a treasure. I had to watch it twice! This reminds me of my Great Grandpa. He couldn't afford a motor for the vacuum pump for his milking machine so he jacked up his Model T and put a belt on the hub to run it. He also raised turkeys and sold ice to the railroad. My dad and Grandpa turned a lot of trucks around to make bale handlers out of them. So much ingenuity in that era, I love it.

[@EasternVideo]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@frankwurth5375]

God, I love it! This is how my family farmed and worked back in the 50s and 60s when I was a little kid. A lot of work and every one chipped in. Unfortunately, most of the men also had town jobs to make enough cash to get by. Before the price of milk dropped to below cost of production, the dairy herd was the main source of income, we also had a large laying hen flock. That too, the big time mentality, killed the deal for the small family farms. Sad, what we lost!

[@EasternVideo]

Glad that this provided some enjoyment for you, but totally understand how the family farm has been dealt a death knell.

[@csil2863]

The doodlebug was a very useful and used machine!

[@clarencetrice4442]

IVE heard 😊😊 of people years ago going and cutting ice off the pond most likely people like dads moms father years ago back then that's the way U had block ice or U had 2 go 2 the ice house 🏡 😊 and people use 2 have 2 cut corn 🌽 W acorn knife until corn binders were made then later on combines were made and people use 2 cut alot of wood W wood saw and tractor 🚜 😊😊 OMG 2 12 2O24

[@JohnAsmith-rw6uo]

Cattle look well cared for.

[@ReenaMountainLife]

Impressive harvest!

[@Jeffrey8792]

I cannot tell you how wonderful this meaningful family movie compilation you created of 1940s family farm life is. I did not grow up on a farm. I came across this film researching a somewhat unrelated matter. This film shows quite a lot - American family and indsutry, reliance, early implentation of nechnical technology; means of sustainability, meaningfully. How skill and teamwork allowed men to build what they needed: wood boards from trees, buildings on the land for shelter; use of th3eModel T or Model A to become the driver of implements! Please keo this video up forever, and archived of UA-cam as well.

[@EasternVideo]

Thank you - really appreciate it!

[@jimcushman5060]

Great video. Back in the early 60’s I RAN A MODEL A tractor tending hay and many other chores. Those were the days for sure. Thanks for the memories ! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@paulsoutbackgardenaustrali7674]

sad..crying my eyes out but thnx

[@EasternVideo]

It is an era long gone.

[@Lindenbum]

Best video on you tube

[@combathistoryoverloaded6738]

what songs did you use for the video

[@EasternVideo]

They're by Bensound. I believe they're creative commons licensed.

[@BrIce-r9m]

notice how blue the skys were.. before all the pollution's